Sony has confirmed that, from March 2026, all digital games on PS4 and PS5 require an online license verification every 30 days. What was initially reported as a technical error turned out to be a digital rights management measure. If the console remains disconnected from the internet for more than a month, access to the titles is blocked until the check is performed. The company clarifies that the games do not expire, but the need for periodic connection has generated confusion among users, especially those who play without a stable connection.
How the new license verification system works 🔒
The DRM system implemented by Sony operates through a license token that automatically renews when the console connects to the internet. If the 30-day period expires without a connection, the token is invalidated and the games become inaccessible until a new verification. Technically, the process does not consume much data and runs in the background. However, for users with unstable connections or who travel frequently, this measure poses a barrier. Sony has not detailed whether there will be exceptions for consoles that never connect, leaving doubts about the viability of offline physical gaming.
The paradox of offline gaming: you need internet to not play online 🤔
So now, to play a title you bought and downloaded, you need the console to greet Sony's servers every month. It's like having a car in the garage that, if you don't start the engine every 30 days, refuses to start. Users living in areas without fixed internet or who enjoy long road trips are already imagining how to explain to their PS5 that it's not a lack of affection, but a lack of coverage. At least, as long as the connection lasts, we can continue enjoying that game which, according to Sony, is ours, but only if we ask permission.